Fireproof-shutter mechanism.



F. MQMANUS. PIREPROOF SHUTTER MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED MAY 27, 1909.

Patented Feb. 1, 1910.

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1 Cute/$19.

flJZ W P KY F. MGMANUS.

FIREPROOF SHUTTER IVIfECHEJXISM.

APPLICATION FILED mu 27,1909.

Patentd Feb. 1,1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

v F. MOMANUS. FLREPROOF SHUTTER MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 27, 1909.

Patented Feb. 1, 1910.

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1 wa m Fever and; level A... LL 1 Us 6 S ping the pawls into engagementwith the ratchet wheels and locking the drums to the shaft. The furtherdown ard move- -ment of the locking bars 9releases the shaft and asthere is no longer any spring tension applied to the shutter, itimmediately drops. In order to raise the shutter again, I provide asprocket wheel 20 at one end. of the shaft over which I will pass achain 21 leading down to a similar sprocket wheel 22 pro vided with anoperating crank or handle.

When it is desired to restore the parts to their original condition, theshaft is first rotated by the chain and sprocket just described to raisethe shutter to its original position, whereupon the Wires or cables 17are drawn sufficiently to cause the slides 9 to move into the slots inthe shaft far enough to prevent the shaft from rotating. While the shaftis so held the shutter is pulled down just sufiiciently to releasethepressure on the pawls, whereupon the plugs are drawn out by the wires23attached thereto and projecting outthrough the ends of the hollowshaft until the tension has raised the pawls clear of the ratchet. Thenthe wires or cables 17 are. drawn to their final tension, causing theslides to come in contact with the plugs holding both theplugs and theshaft rigid. spring drums are free to revolve on the shaft when theshutter is raised and lowered, the shutter being preferablycounterbalanced by the springs. By this arrangement there is no.re-winding of the springs required after the shutter has beenautomatically dropped.

J lit will be readily seen that as many intermediate drums 5 withoutlooking mechanism may be provided as the width of the curtain mayrequire, the unwinding'of the springs of the intermediate drums being pivented by the locking mechanism attached to the end drums.

The shutter is guided in its vertical move ment at its edges by guides2-1. It is difficult to make tight or fire-proof joint between theshutter and the top of the window casingwithout interfering with thefree movement of a shutter of this character.

To provide for the automatic closing of the space at the top of thewindow casing, I previde a plate 25 which is pivoted upon brackets 26attached to the sides of the win dow casing and is normally held drawnback in a horizontal positionby springsv 27. rod 28 extends down on eachside of the This being done thewheel, a spring window through a guide 28and, has its lower end bent at right angles so as to lie in the path ofa knee or angle piece 29 carried by the lower edge of'the shutter.

It will thus be seen that when the shutter fastens, its angle piececomes in contact with the bent end of the rods pulling them clownwardand tilting the closing plate over so as to bring its edge into contactwith the face of the shutter, making a ti ht oint.

The plate 25 is prefera ly composed of two plates, the'one slidablymounted on the other, so that when the parts are in the position shownin Fig. 2, the upper plate will tend to be held by gravity with its edgein contact with the face of the curtain, the sliding movementbeingpermitted by the pin and slot connection shownin said figure.

Having thus described I claim is 1. In combination, a shaft, a drumrotatably mounted on the shaft, a fire resisting shutter or curtainconnected to the drum, :1 spring interposed bGlLWQGILtlN-B drum and theshaft for counterbalancing the weight of the shutter, fusibly releasedmeans for normally holding the shaft means for automatically locking thedrum to the shaft when the shaft has been released by the fusible means.

2. In combina ion, a shaft, a drum rotatably mounted on the shaft, afire resisting my invention what shutter or curtain connected to thedrum, a

spring interposed between the drum and the shaft for counterbalancingthe weight of the shutter, fusibly released means for normally holdingthe shaft against rotation, and pawl and ratchet mechanism forautomatically locking the drum to the shaft when the shaft has beenreleased by the fusible means;

3. In combination, a shaft, a drum rota tably mounted on the shaft, afire resisting shutter or curtain connected to the drum, a springinterposed beti 'een the drum and the shaft for counterbalancing theweight of the shutter, fusibly released means for normally holding theshaft against rotation, a ratchet wheel carried by the drum, a pawlsupported from the shaft, a dog for normally holding the pawl out ofengagement with the ratchet-wheel, and means for causing the dog torelease the pawl when the fusible means is melted. i

4.. In combination, a hollow shaft, a drum rotatably mounted. on theshaft, a fire resisting shutter or curtain connected to the drum,

a spring interposed between the drum and the shaft for counter-balancingthe weight of the shutter, fusibly released means for normally holdingthe shaft against rotation, a ratchet Wheel fixed to the drum, a collarfast on' the shaft in proximity to the ratchet pressed pawl carried bythe against rotation, and

collar, a bell crank lever pivoted to the collar and having one endoperatively engaging the pawl, and a tension member extending inside thehollow shaft and connected with the other arm of the bell crank lever,and means for releasing said tension member when the fusible means ismelted.

5. In combination, a shaft, a drum rotatably mounted on the shaft, atire resisting shutter or curtain connected to the drum, a soringinterposed between the drum and the shaft for counterbalancing theweight of the shutter, a sliding locking device for engaging the shaftto hold it against rotation, fiisibly released means for normallyholding said device in locking position and normally inactive means forlocking the drum to the shaft, said last named means being renders lactive to lock the drum to the shaft on the release of the slidinglocking means by the fusible means.

6. In combination, a hollow shaft, a drum rotatably mounted on theshaft, a tire resist ing shutter or curtain connected to the drum, aspring interposed between the drum and the shaft for counterbalancingthe weight of the shutter, saic shaft having an opening therein, asliding locking device for engaging said opening to hold the shaftagainst rotation, tusioly released means for nor mally holding saidlocking device inlocliing position, a ratchet wheel carried by the drum,a pawl carrying member carried by the shaft, a pawl on said member forengaging the ratchet wheel, a bell crank lever carried by the pawlcarrying member and having an arm adapted to raise said pawl out ofengagement with the ratchet wheel, a tension member connected to theother arm of the bell crank lever, and a plug connected to the tensionmember and normally engaged by the said sliding locking device.

7. In combination, a shaft, a plurality of drums rotatably mounted on'the shaft, a tire resisting shutter or curtain conn cted to the drums,springs interposed betwe 1n the drums and the shaft for counterbalancingthe weight of the shutter, fusibly released means for normally holdingthe shaft against rotation, and means for automatically looking one ormore of the drums to the shaft when the shaft has been released by thefusible means.

8. In combination with a window frame and an automatically closing fireproof shutter, of an auxiliary closing device movably mounted at the topof the window frame, and means whereby the closing of the shutterautomatically moves the said auxiliary closing device to close the spacebetween the top of the window frame and the shutter,

9. In combination with a window frame, an automatically closing shutter,an auxiliary closing device pivotally mounted within the window frame.at the top thereof, a spring for normally holding said auxiliary closingdevice in a horizontal position, a rod depending from the outer edge ofsaid auxiliary closing device, and a part carried by the shutter adaptedto engage a projection on the rod to automatically tilt said auxiliaryclosing device to bring its edge in contact with the shutter. i

In testimony whereof, I afliX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK -hlOMANUS..

Witnesses:

I R. L. TAYLOR,

his Gnonen Scorn mark

